Data Sheet

-3-
Getting Answers to Your Questions About Machining
Over the years we have found that the majority of our customers
are both highly intelligent and skilled craftsmen. Often they
are also new to machining. The instructions we have included
in this book, while far more extensive than anything included
with other machine tools—even ones costing thousands
of dollars—still only scratch the surface when it comes to
machining. We have tried to anticipate the most common
problems and questions asked by a new machinist. What we
have provided in this book and with each accessory, when
combined with a liberal amount of common sense, is more
than enough to get you started. If you apply what you learn
here, you will be well on your way to making good parts.
No doubt you will also have many questions specic to your
project that simply can’t be addressed in a manual of this type.
Answers to questions beyond the scope of this booklet will have
to come from your own research. Bookstores and libraries are
full of excellent books on machining, and the Internet oers
some great user groups that can put you in direct contact with
others who share your specic interests. Our own website is a
great source of information as well. We have published there
all the instructions for all our tools and accessories for you to
read and print out for free. There are also links to many other
fascinating sites. We have found Machinery’s Handbook to
be a great resource to turn to answer many of your questions.
Sherline founder, Joe Martin, wrote a book called Tabletop
Machining that is specically directed to the owners of Sherline
tools and to anyone who wants to learn to make small metal
parts. The instructions you are reading that come with your
machine are quite complete, however, if you want to get into
more detail or want to see color photos of setups and projects
made by some of the best craftsmen around, We are sure you
will nd more than your money’s worth in Tabletop Machining.
May your journey toward becoming a skilled machinist be
an enjoyable one.
What New Machinists Like Most and Least
If you are new to machining, you may nd it to be either one of
the most rewarding skills one can learn or the most frustrating
thing you have ever attempted. What makes machining fun
for some is the complexity and challenge. The same thing
will drive others up the wall. One customer may be overjoyed
because he can now make parts that were not available for
purchase. Another may wonder why he just spent all day
making a part that is similar to one he could have purchased
for two dollars. The dierence is that it is not the same as the
two-dollar part—it is exactly the part needed.
There Are no Shortcuts
Machining is a slow process because parts are made one at
An Introduction to the World of Miniature Machining
a time. The interesting thing is, a skilled machinist may take
almost as long to make the same part as a novice. Shortcuts
usually end in failure. Unlike some other trades, mistakes
cannot be covered up. There are no erasers, white-out or
“putting-on tools” for machinists; you simply start over. To
expand a little on an old rule: “Think three times, measure
twice and cut once!”
The Craftsman’s Strength—Anticipating a Tool’s Limitations
The skill in machining isn’t just “moving the dials.” It is a
combination of engineering and craftsmanship. A le is just
as useful a tool to a good machinist as a multi-thousand-
dollar machine tool. Tools “deect” or bend under load,
and anticipating this bend is what it is all about. Sharp tools
deect less than dull tools, but with each pass the tool gets a
little duller and the deection becomes greater. If you try to
machine a long shaft with a small diameter, the center will
always have a larger diameter than the ends, because the part
deects away from the tool where it has less support. You can
go crazy trying to machine it straight, or you can simply pick
up a good, at mill le and le it straight in a few moments.
Machine tools will never replace the “craftsman’s touch,”
and machining is a combination of both good tools and good
technique.
You Don’t Become a Machinist by Buying a Machine
You should strive from the beginning to make better and
more accurate parts than you think you need. Work to closer
tolerances than the job demands. Be on the lookout for ways to
make a job easier or better. Having a selection of appropriate
materials on hand and a good cuto saw to get them to rough
size is a good start. Take some time and read through this
instruction book before you try machining anything. We
want you to enjoy the process of creating accurate parts from
raw metal. Buying a machine didn’t make you a machinist,
but using it along with the skill and knowledge you acquire
along the way eventually will. With the purchase of Sherline
equipment, you have taken your rst step toward many years
of machining satisfaction. We thank you for letting us be a
part of that.
Thank you,
Sherline Products Inc.
General Precautions
• DO NOT attempt to operate the lathe or mill without rst
mounting them to a secure base. (See page 10.)
• DO NOT turn on the motor with a 3-jaw chuck mounted if
the jaws are not tightened on themselves or on a part. The
acceleration of the spindle can cause the scroll to open the
chuck jaws if not tightened.
• DO NOT lift or carry the machine by the motor. The cast
motor mount was not designed to support the entire weight
of the machine. Carry the machine by lifting under the base
or by the mounting board. It is also advisable to remove the
headstock/motor/speed control unit when transporting the
machine. The inertia of a sudden shock can also over stress
the motor mount.
• A chip guard (P/N 4360) is now available that offers
additional protection from ying chips when working near
the spindle. It is not a substitute for wearing proper eye
protection, but it does oer additional safety. It will also
contain cutting oil to help keep your work area cleaner.
SHERLINE FACTORY TOURS
Visit Sherline’s factory in North San Diego County and
see miniature machine tools being produced. If you can’t
come by, see the photo factory tour on our website at
sherline.com/about/factory-tour/.